Improvement in folding tables



Unrran s'ra'rns PATENT Grantee.

ENocH J. 'MAns'rnns, or STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Parent No. 165,011, dated June 29, 1875 application filed May 17, 1875. i

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, ENOCH JAMES MARS- TEES, of Stockton, San Joaquin county, State of California, have invented an Improved Folding Table; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvement without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of tables which are intended to be folded into a small compass for. the purpose of transportation; and it consists in a novel manner of constructing what I term compound legs, which will, by their method of bracing, form a very stiff-and serviceable table. These legs may be folded down upon the table, and the table itself is divided into two leaves, which may be turned back for transportation.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation of my invention,

Figure l is a side elevation. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a bottom View.

A is a table, which is formed of two parts or leaves. Strengthening-rails B are secured across each end of the table, being divided at the meeting edge of the leaves. Upon one side of these rails is a button, 0, which is made to turn under a lug, D, upon the other part of the rail where they meet, and these serve to hold the leaves together, and keep the top of the table level. Midway from the ends of the table are two lugs, E E, one being screwed to each leaf, side by side, and overlapping or extending beneath the other leaf, and these prevent the meeting edges of the leaves from springing past each other. The legs of my table are composed of two parts,

each hinged so as to be folded beneath the table. The part F may be formed of two pieces, if desired, but I prefer to make it by sawing one piece of board into the proper shape. This part is hinged to the cross-bar or rail B, so that it can be folded down lengthwise beneath the table. In order to brace these legs properly, I hinge another leg, G, at a short distance from F to the under side of the table A, so that it stands at an angle with F. The two parts meet at the bottom, and the part F has a projecting strip, h, which fits into a corresponding slot on the part G, and a hook, k, serves to secure the two together, thus making a very strong and stiff leg.

When the table is be folded, the braces G are unhooked and laid down, followed by the legs F, and the angle at which the braces are hinged to the table will cause them to lie par allel with the slanting side of the opposite leg when folded. The button 0, which holds the two leaves of the table together, may be turned so as to release the leaves, and at the same time extend over the ends of the folded legs, so as to hold them in place. The leaves being then folded with the top sides together, will be protected from injury in transportation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The table A with its legs F, and angularly hinged braces G with the lugs h and slot i, and the hooks k, the whole constructed to operate substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

ENOGH JAMES MARSTERS.

Witnesses JoHN D. WEBSTER, J NO. H. WEBSTER. 

